European leaders are supporting a $53 billion Arab-backed plan for recovery and reconstruction in Gaza that was previously rejected by the US and Israel.
The foreign ministers of France, Germany, Italy and the UK issued a joint statement on Saturday saying they welcome the plan, which was drawn up by Egypt and adopted by Arab leaders at an emergency summit on Tuesday.
“The plan shows a realistic path to the reconstruction of Gaza and promises — if implemented — swift and sustainable improvement of the catastrophic living conditions for the Palestinians living in Gaza,” the foreign ministers’ statement said.
“Recovery and reconstruction efforts must be based upon a solid political and security framework acceptable to both Israelis and Palestinians, which provides long term peace and security for both Israelis and Palestinians alike,” they continued.
The coalition added that it “explicitly” supports the “central role” of the Palestinian Authority and the implementation of its reform agenda in post-war Gaza.
“We are clear that Hamas must neither govern Gaza nor be a threat to Israel any more,” it added.
The plan calls for a committee that would temporarily oversee humanitarian aid and manage the Strip’s affairs under the supervision of the Palestinian Authority.
It has been rejected by Israel and President Trump, who has pushed resettling Palestinians outside the territory and expressed a vision of transforming Gaza into the “Riviera of the Middle East.”
Both parties say the plan fails to address the realities in Gaza.
“Residents cannot humanely live in a territory covered in debris and unexploded ordnance,” Brian Hughes, a spokesperson for Trump’s National Security Council, said in a statement earlier this week.
“President Trump stands by his vision to rebuild Gaza free from Hamas,” he added.
Separately, Iran also reportedly rejected the plan as it supports only a one-state solution for Palestine, not the proposed two-state solution where it exists alongside Israel.
Iran-backed Houthi rebels threatened Friday to resume attacks on Israeli shipping if the country does not resume aid to Gaza in the coming days, and Hamas has threatened that the Israeli hostages it currently holds will be at risk otherwise, too.
Meanwhile, the Israel Defense Forces carried out a drone strike in Lebanon Saturday targeting an Iranian-backed Hezbollah operative “involved in the rehabilitation of terror infrastructure and directing Hezbollah terror operations in southern Lebanon,” the military said.
It also struck several suspects in Gaza that it said were acting against Israeli forces, according to reports.
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s office announced Saturday evening that it will send a negotiating team to Qatar Monday to continue efforts to extend the cease-fire hostage deal in Gaza, with help from US-backed mediators.
Over the past week, Israel pushed Hamas to release half of the remaining hostages in return for an extension of the first phase, which officially ended last weekend, and to agree to a lasting truth, according to reports.
Hamas is believed to have 24 living hostages and the remains of 34 others.
Demonstrators in Tel Aviv have ramped up protests demanding Israel extend the deal to save more hostages being held by terrorists, fearing that recent threats of renewed fighting will further risk their lives.
With Post wires
